A new season kicks off with Big Rich and Kevin diving headfirst into 2026’s chaos—from ICE raids and voter data seizures to internal Democratic battles and bold gubernatorial moves. With political theater turning to dramedy, they explore the dangerous erosion of democracy, the resurgence of protest, and the rising stakes in this year’s elections. Minnesota, Georgia, California, and Virginia all take center stage as battlegrounds for power, accountability, and economic justice.

📍 00:00 – Welcome to Season 2
Rich and Kevin return from break to set the stage for a year packed with political tension, Black History Month reflections, and civil unrest across the country.

📍 06:02 – Minnesota Meltdown: ICE, Injustice, and Intimidation
The hosts unpack the ICE executions in Minneapolis, the attack on Somali communities, and how federal overreach is becoming a partisan weapon.

📍 13:10 – Fulton County Under Siege
Trump loyalists weaponize the FBI to seize 2020 ballots in Georgia, triggering fears of voter suppression, election manipulation, and a deeper power grab.

📍 23:33 – Faith, Frustration, and the Fight Ahead
A passionate discussion on Black institutions—from churches to fraternities—and why collective action, political participation, and voter turnout must become non-negotiables.

📍 29:38 – The ICE Divide: Dems Can’t Afford a Messaging Mistake
Rich and Kevin break down the Democratic Party’s split over ICE: abolish it, reform it, or dodge it altogether—and why accountability, not gimmicks, should drive the conversation.

🐍 Mamba Mentality Award
🐍 Rep. Ilhan Omar – For staying ten toes down and confronting cowardice head-on, even mid-event.
🐍 Mayor Jacob Frey – For his raw, unapologetic defiance as Minneapolis faces an ICE crisis.
🐍 The People of Minnesota – Especially the families of Keith Porter Jr., Renée Good, and Alex Pretti—for reminding the world that protest is not just a right, but a duty.
🐍 Local Georgia Leaders – Rep. Stacey Evans, Rep. Tanya Miller, Sarah Draper, Rob Pitts, Marvin Arrington, Mo Ivory, and Sen. Josh McLaurin—for being on the front lines in Fulton County’s darkest hour.

A year-end political therapy session finds Rich and Kevin breaking down why affordability—not Trump—is the real electoral battleground. From gubernatorial tension in Maryland to lottery-fueled messaging in Alabama, they explore how Democrats can win if they stop running scared. But can the party fix its brand before 2026? That’s the billion-dollar question.

📍 00:30 – Moore Money, Moore Problems in Maryland
Governor Wes Moore faces legislative revolt and a reality check as veto overrides pile up and his 2028 ambitions clash with 2026 obligations.

📍 12:29 – Doug’s Down-Home Blueprint
Doug Jones makes his Alabama comeback by filming a viral lottery video in a Georgia parking lot, turning everyday economic pain into powerful messaging.

📍 23:12 – Newsom’s Tax Trap
California's wealth tax proposal puts Gavin Newsom in a political bind—please progressives or keep billionaires from bolting before 2028.

📍 33:12 – The Spanberger Strategy
Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger lays out a policy-first, rural-inclusive plan that could become the national Democratic playbook.

📍 37:53 – Trump Tries a Pivot (Too Late?)
After calling affordability a hoax, Trump flips his script—just as voters (and some Republicans) blame him for rising prices and chaotic governance.

🐍 Mamba Mentality Award
This week’s award goes to the Southern Comfort Podcast itself. Fifty-one episodes deep, Rich, Kevin, and producer Stew celebrate a year of fearless commentary, coalition-building, and cultural clarity—proof that consistency, clarity, and community still matter.

After 50 episodes of real talk, Rich and Kevin celebrate their milestone by reflecting on the year’s biggest political moments—and the mess still unfolding. From Trump’s primetime gaslighting about affordability to the Democratic Party’s struggle to define its own brand, this episode is part victory lap, part war cry. They unpack what it’ll take to win in 2026 and why organizing (not just vibes) is the only path forward.

📍 02:08 – Trump’s Primetime Lie-fest
Rich and Kevin react to Trump’s national address on affordability and call out the media’s failure to push back on outright lies about Biden’s record.

📍 10:46 – Affordability Is a Political Death Trap
Why both parties are fumbling the conversation on cost of living—and how the right uses fear while the left just fumbles the mic.

📍 19:15 – Democrats Have a Branding Problem
Kevin breaks down how Republicans make everything sound simple, while Democrats talk like think tanks. Messaging matters—especially to working-class voters.

📍 28:09 – Who’s Gonna Run in 2026?
The hosts look ahead at potential statewide candidates in the South—and why more working-class Black candidates need to be in the pipeline now, not later.

📍 36:33 – Organize or Die
No amount of slick ads can replace real infrastructure. Rich and Kevin call out lazy campaign strategy and make the case for recruiting, training, and funding new leaders now.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award Goes To…

🐍 Southern Comfort Listeners – For riding with Rich and Kevin through 50 episodes of politics, jokes, strategy, and soul.

🐍 Organizers in the Deep South – Because they’re doing the hard, thankless work year-round—and still believe in the power of the people.

🐍 Kevin and Big Rich – For building a platform rooted in truth, Black Southern brilliance, and the courage to say what needs to be said.